Method for texturizing yarns

ABSTRACT

A TEXTURIZED, BINDER-CONTAINING YARN PRODUCED BY APPLYING BINDER MATERIAL TO A TEXTURIZED YARN THROUGH A JET SPRAY NOZZLE.

June 27, 1972 LUSCHER ETAL 3,672,947

METHOD FOR TEXTURIZING YARNS Filed Oct. 29. 1969 INVENTORS' H 01. Lam/m JEN A. #0050 J/ms w. (fl/0895 h. NEY;

' United States Patent Office 3,672,947 Patented June 27, 1972 3,672,947 METHOD FOR TEXTURIZING YARNS Paul Luscher and Ben A. Hudson, Shelby, and Billie W.

Childers, Forest City, N.C., assignors to PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed Oct. 29, 1969, Ser. No. 872,056 Int. Cl. B44d N08 US. Cl. 117-104 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A texturized, binder-containing yarn produced by applying binder material to a texturized yarn through a jet spray nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel textile yarn and, in particular, to a texturized filamentary yarn treated with a binder so as to impart superior strength, stability and binder uniformity to the finished product. The present invention also encompasses both a novel method and apparatus for producing texturized, textile yarn products in an efficient and economic manner and at a high rate of production.

Prior to the present invention, texturized yarn containing binder was produced by contacting a texturized filamentary yarn with a roller or belt applicator that transferred a liquid binder material from a reservoir to the yarn. The binder material was applied to the texturized yarn to impart strength and integrity or stability to the finished product. However, a number of limitations were inherent in employing such prior art procedures. Among these limitations were: difficulty in controlling the amount of binder pickup; lack of uniformity in the amount of binder applied; the limiting influence of the binder application technique on the overall rate of production; housekeeping problems due to binder fly-oif; detexturizing due to frictional drag of the yarn on the binder applicator; and constant maintenance of the binder applicator due to binder buildup and wear of the roller or belt applicator. The present invention corrects or substantially eliminates the foregoing problems by employing a unique spray technique for binder application. In accordance with the present invention, an economical, clean, high speed, precisely controlled method and apparatus are provided to produce binder-containing texturized yarns that exhibit excellent properties of strength, binder uniformity and stability.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in conujnction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation illustrating apparatus for yarn texturizing and binder application within the contemplation of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

Shown in the drawing are a plurality of bobbins 10 and 12 mounted for over-end take-01f of multifilament strand or yarn 14 which is to be texturized, coated and impregnated with a binder material and wound on apackage. While the drawing shows the simultaneous processing of two strands or yarns on the same apparatus for economy of operation, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited. Accordingly, the following description will proceed in connection with processing a single multifilament strand 14, with the recognition that this invention is amenable to simultaneously processing more than one such strand or yarn on the same apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, strand 14 is withdrawn from its bobbin by a feed-roll assembly 16 comprising a drive roll 18, suitably coupled for rotation to a power source (not shown), and a nip or idler roll 20 journaled for rotation with its outer cylindrical surface in frictional contact with the outer cylindrical surface of roll 18. As shown, strand 14, upon being withdrawn from its bobbin, traverses a tensioning device 22, passes over a grooved guide rod 24, then follows an S-shaped path around and between rolls 18 and 20 and is introduced into a texturizing jet or nozzle 26 of any desired construction, such as those disclosed in US. Pats. 2,783,609, 3,328,863 and 3,381,346.

Upon leaving texturizing nozzle 26, strand 14 is then directed downwardly and forwardly, at an angle, between an upper guide 28, located adjacent nozzle 26, and a lower guide 30, located adjacent the underside of a takeup roll assembly 32. Strand 14 then passes in an S-shaped path around and between the drive roll 34 and the nip or idler roll 36 that comprises take-up roll assembly 32, and is thereafter directed by guide 38 in a horizontally disposed path to binder applicator 40. Drive rolls 18 and 34 are driven at identical rates of speed. However, while the outer diameters of idler rolls 20 and 36 are the same, the outer diameter of drive roll 18 is larger than the outer diameter of drive roll 34 and, as is well understood by those skilled in the art, this difference in diameters determines the percentage of overfeed of strand 14 necessary to accomplish texturizing of the strand 14 by texturizing nozzle 26. The percentage of overfeed can also be controlled by using identical drive rolls and identical idler rolls for feed and take-up, but regulating the speeds of the drive rolls individually.

As shown, binder applicator 40 comprises an upwardly open tank or reservoir 42 and a vertically adjustable spray nozzle 44 that directs a pressurized spray of binder 46 downwardly across the path of strand 14 and into tank 42. Tank 42 has its opposite side walls, that intersect the path of yarn travel, slotted at 48 and 50 to permit traverse of the yarn 14 While keeping the binder spray 46 within the confines of the tank. The bottom of tank 42 is equipped with an outlet 52 through which excess binder spray 46 can be directed or returned through a tube 54 to binder reservoir 56. By means of tubes 58 and pump 60, binder withdrawn from binder reservoir 56 is pressurized a predetermined amount and directed or fed to spray nozzle 44 through connecting piping 62. Piping 62 is supported by a clamp 64 afiixed to tank 42 so that nozzle 44 can be vertically adjusted to the desired height perpendicular to strand 14.

The binder used for binder spray 46 can be of any desired liquid composition and any desired consistency or viscosity. For example, starch, oils, resins, hot melt or solvent type materials and the like in liquid form, including emulsions, suspensions, solutions and the like thereof can be used.

As binder spray 46 is directed downwardly under pres sure and in a conical-shaped pattern across the path of travel of the texturized strand 14, the strand 14 picks up an amazingly uniform amount and surprisingly large quantity of binder at strand speeds upwardly of 500 yards per minute, and even as high as 1,000 yards per minute or higher. Moreover, as will be understood, spray nozzle 44 is arranged to be vertically adjustable in order to assist in controlling the amount and uniformity of the binder application. Thus, use of the disclosed spray method of binder application permits adjusting the amount of application by simply changing not only the solids of the binder, but by raising or lowering the jet spray nozzle 44 and thereby changing the distance between the multifilament strand or strand end and the orifice of the spray nozzle. The greater the distance between the orifice of the nozzle 44 and the strand 14, the less is the binder application thereto. Also, needless to say, binder application can be controlled to some extent by controlling the pressure produced by pump 60.

After binder application, strand 14 is directed to a suitable winder or take-up device 66 where the texturized and binder coated or impregnated strand 14 is wound into a strand package 68. Absent auxiliary drying means, the greater the distance between the binder applicator unit 40 and the winder 66,the better the predrying before reaching the winder.

As mentioned above, different types of texturizing nozzles may be used with this invention, depending on the end product desired. As regards single-end texturing, fine adjustment of jet air fiow and/or air flow direction are paramount in producing a good yarn. Also, in view of the high speed of strand travel, careful precision alignment of the various rolls is important.

It is believed, however, that the spray technique of binder application is by far the most important aspect of this invention. By use of the disclosed spray technique, it is possible to significantly improve the stability of texturized yarn to permit more efiicient weaving. Stability of the final yarn is absolutely essential for a good piece of fabric. If no binder or insufficient binder is applied on a texturized single end, for example, it has always been found that the yarn has essentially no stability and the loopiness of the texturing will pull out with little effort. In a number of comparative tests with single-end textured yarn produced in accordance with this invention and single-end textured yarn presently available on the market, it was shown that the yarn of this invention exhibited from to 30 percent better strength, which is most desirable since a single-end textured yarn has a tendency to be too weak for good weaving.

Yarn or strand, as the terms are used herein, are intended to include organic or inorganic, twisted or untwisted, continuous or staple fibrous materials, and, in particular, glass fibrous material.

While the present invention has been described in connection with specific details of a certain embodiment thereof, it is not intended that such details act as limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In a method for producing fluid-texturized yarn having improved resistance to detexturizing comprising supplying yarn from a source thereof, fluid-texturizing said yarn, applying a spray of a binder to said fluid-texturized yarn from a spray source located a distance from said yarn and at a pressure sufiicient together to deposit said binder substantially uniformly on said fluid-texturized yarn in a substantially uniform amount and thereafter collecting said fluid-texturized yarn.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said binder is spray applied so that the binder spray intersects the path of travel of said yarn.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said binder is spray applied in a direction normal tothe path of travel of said yarn.

4. A method according to claim 2 which further includes the step of controlling the length of travel of said binder spray relative to said yarn.

5. A method according to claim 2 which further includes the steps of applying pressure to said binder spray and controlling the amount of said pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,032,813 5/1962 Stalego 1l8325 X 3,273,987 9/1966 Marzocchi et a1. 28-75 X 3,352,710 11/1967 Wolf et a1 117-l26 X 455,771 7/1969 Ichimi et a1 l17-l39.5 X 3,498,043 3/1970 Molfett et al 28-72.1 X

RALPH S. KENDALL, Primary Examiner C. WESTON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

28-72, 72.11, 117--l26 R, 139.5 R

Disclaimer 3,672,947.Paul Luscher and Ben A. Hudson, Shelby and Billie W Childers, Forest City, NC. METHOD FOR TEXTURIZING YARNS. Patent dated June 27, 1972. Disclaimer filed Aug. 17, 1982, by the assignee, PPG Industries, Inc.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to all claims of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette September 27, 1983.] 

